Picker-stick-retracting device



h 1931- A. GARGOLINSKI PICKER STICK RETRACTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1930 I E/ TOR A /v THUN YD. EARGDL. //v5/1 A 77'UE'NE Y5 Patented Mar. 24, 1931 PATEN T OFFICE ANTHONY 1 GARGOLINSKI, OF WORCESTER, 'MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON & KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION MASSACHUSETTS PICKER-STICK-RETRACTING DEVICE Application filed January 14:, 1930. Serial No. 420,784. 7

This invention relates to improvements in retracting devices for picker sticks for looms and it is the general object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective device of this type employing preferably a compression spring and a movable element operatively connected thereto to limit or check outward movement of the picker stick.

The usual fly shuttle loom employs at each end thereof a picker stick which is given an inward shuttle propelling movement by cam operated devices. After the picker stick has moved toward the cloth it is necessary that it be returnedto outward position in or: der not to interfere with the subsequent arrival of a shuttle in the shuttle box. This return movement of the picker stick should be definite and complete but it is desirable not to have such movement accompanied by undue shock. It is accordingly an import-ant object of my present invention so to relate the withdrawing or retracting member with a pivoted element capable of engaging the picker stick as to check the latter as the same moves outwardly.

It is a more specific object of V my present invention to provide a rod surrounded by a compression spring, the rod passing through a portion of the pivoted element previously referred to and the spring acting thereon to swing the picker stick and element angularly to bring into engagement co-acting surfaces 011 the stick and element for the purpose of checking the movement of the stick.

WVith these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my.

invention resides. in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth, 7

' Fig. 1 is a front elevation *of the lower portion of one end of the loom having my invention applied thereto, with the picker stick in outward position,

Fig. 2'is a view on an enlarged scale of'a portion of Fig. 1 showingthe pickerjstickin its inward positiomand Fig. 3 is an end elevation taken in the directionof arrow 3, Fig. 2.. v

The loomside 10 supports the usual bottom shaft 11 on which is mounted a picker arm 12.. The latter carries a picker roll 13 adapted for periodic co -action with a picker cam 14. The latter is secured to a picker shaft 15 mounted for oscillation in bearings 16 one of which is shown in Fig. 1. An upwardly extending power arm 17 has attached thereto a strap or similar device 18 extending to the right as shown in Fig. 1 and secured between the picker stick l9 and a clamp 20. The latter is encircled by a loop 21 which surrounds the picker stick and carries a set screw 22 which forces the clamp against the strap.

The rocker shaft 23 is also mounted for oscillation in the frame of the loom and has extending therefrom and secured thereto a rocker foot 24 provided with a horizontal slot 25. A stud 26 is adjustably secured in. the slot to be movable therealong and forms the pivotal support for the picker stick 19.

The matter thus far describedinay be of usual construction and of itself forms no part of my present invention.

In applying my improvements I employ astud 30 which extends through the slot 25 and is adjustablelongitudinally therein, being held in adjusted position by means of nut 31. Pivotally mounted on the stud is a picker stick engaging element 32 having a substantially vertical surface 33 adapted for engagement with the outer surface 34 of the picker stick. The surface 33 may extend below the stud as shown in Fig. 2;

The upper end of the element extends -outwardly as at 35 and has slidably ext-ending ti-on will be accomplished-if said support .is

held against movement with respect to the picker stick.

Assuming that the picker stick in its normal position as shown in Fig. 1, the surfaces 33 and 34: will be in engagement with each other and the spring 38 will. be expanded to its maximum degree. Under these conditions also the extension 35 may engage the support 40, although this latter relation is not necessary. At the time of picking the picker ball or roll 13 will engage the cam 14: due to rotation of the bottom shaft 11 with resultant rocking of the picker shaft 15 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. There will ensue a left hand movement of the strap 18 to draw the picker stick around the stud 26 as a pivot until; the same assumes some such a position as that shown in Fig. 2.

It will be observed that when the stick is in normal position contacting surfaces .33 and 34 are disposed at an angle with respect to a line joining the studs 26 and 30, but that as the picker stick assumes a more vertical position said surfaces are separated as suggested in Fig. 2. During this movement of the picker stick the support 40 and therefore the head 39 of the rod will be raised with respect to Stud 30 and the extension 35, thereby compressingl'the spring 38. As soon as the picker ball 13 leaves the cam 14' the spring 38 will tend to expand, exerting downward pressure thereof the head 39 against'the support 40 to cause movement of the picker stick back from the position shown in Fig. 2' at that shown in Fig. 1.

During this return or retracting movement the surfaces 33 and 34 will approach each other until finally they will engage each other preferably just prior to the end of the movement of the picker stick. Because of the fact that the element 32- moves around a center different from that around which the picker stick moves there will be a slight frictional motion between the surfaces [i3 and 34 which will stop the picker'stick gradually. The time at which'said surfaces 33'and 34 engage each other during the return movement of the picker stick can be varied by adjusting the distance between the studs 26 and 30, respectively;

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple means for returning the picker stick to its normal outward position and at the same time effect a checking of said stick bymeans of frictional engagement between the same and the element It will further be seen that the extent of this frictional resistance may be varied by' clhanging the location of the studs 26 and 30 with respect tcieacli other. H

Having thiis described my invention it will be seen that changes and arodificatiehs be ga -cat therein by those' skfll'd iii the art witlietit departing near the sin-fit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a picker stick retracting device for a loom having a pivoted picker stick and means to g'iv'ethe latter a picking stroke, an element pivoted independently of the picker stick, and resilient stick retracting means interposed between the picker stick a-ndsaid element, the axes of the picker stick and element being non-concentric and said element having a surface toengage the picker stick and frictionally resist movement of the same while the means is retracting the picker stick.

2. In a loom picker stick retractor, a picker stick, a pivot therefor around which the picker stick moves, a checking element, a pivot for said element out of axial alignment with the picker stick pivot, and a resilient member interposed between the stick and element to return the picker stick to normal position after a picking movement, saidstick and element having surfaces brought into frictionalengagement to resist the latter part of thereturn motion of the picker stick as the la ter and element turnrespectively about their piv'ots.

3. In a loom picker stick retractor, a picker stick,- a' pivot therefor, an element movable with the picker stick, a pivot for said element spaced from the pivot of the'stick, said element and picker stick having frictionally engaging surfaces brought into contact with each other as the picker stick nears the end of its return stroke to normal position, and

means carried by the element to cause contact of said surfaces to arrest movement of the stick as the latter nears the end of its return stroke, said surfaces normally being oblique with respect to a line joining the axes of the pivots.

4. In a loom picker stick retractor, a picker stick, a pivot therefor, an'ele'ment having a surface extending adjacent a portion ofthe picker stick, a pivot for said element sub-' stantially parallel to but spaced from the pivot of the picker stick, resilient means connecting the stick and element and effective to return the stick to normal position. said surfaces beingspaced during a. portion of tlie'i'eturn stroke of the picker stick but being brought-into Contact witheach to resist moremeat of the picker stic as the same approaches the end or its return stroke: by reason of the relation of the pivots.

5. In a loom picker s'tick'ietra'c'tor, :1 Shuttle propelling element, achec'king elen'ieiit for the latter, a pair of parallel pivots, one for each of said element's, said elements having co aeting'fricti'on surfaces which change" their angular relation with; respect/to a line joining the centers of the pivots as the shuttle 3 propellingelenient moveson its return stroke after picking to resist return movement of the shuttle propelling element, said pivots he ing spaced so as to cause engagement between the surfaces when the latter assume a given angular relation With respect to the line joining the centers of the pivots, and resilient means operatively interposed between the elements to return the shuttle propelling element to normal retracted position.

6. In a loom picker stick retractor, a shuttle propelling element, a checking element there for, a pair of parallel pivots, one for each of said elements, said elements having coacting friction surfaces which change their angular relation with respect to a line joining the centers of the pivots as the shuttle propelling element moves on its return stroke after picking to resist return movement of the shuttle propelling element, said pivots being spaced so as to cause engagement between the surfaces when the latter assume a given angular relation with respect to the line joining the centers of the pivots, means to give said pivots a plurality of positions with respect to each other, and resilient means operatively interposed between the elements and effective independently of the distance between the pivots to return the elements to normal retracted position.

7 In a loom picker stick retractor, a picker stick, anormally fixed pivot therefor, a retracting element movable about a fixed pivot spaced from the first named pivot, said element having a portion extending along a part of the picker stick, an elongated member having one end operatively connected to the picker stick and the other end extending through a portion of the element, and a compression spring acting on said elongated member and the element, said spring being compressed when the picker stick has a shuttle propelling movement and expanding thereafter to return the picker stick to normal retracted position.

8. In a loom picker stick retractor, a picker stick, a normally fixed pivot therefor, an element movable about a fixed pivot spaced from the first named pivot, a compression spring operatively interposed between the element and the picker stick to be compressed as the stick has a shuttle propelling movement and cxpansible thereafter to return the picker stick to normal retracted position, said spring extending along the picker stick and having one end thereof limited as to movement by the element.

9. In a loom picker stick retractor, a picker stick, a normally fixed pivot therefor, a pivoted device movable about a center spaced from and substantially parallel to the picker stick pivot, a pair of stop elements one carried by the device and one carried by the picker stick, and resilient means operatively related to the stop elements to return the picker stick to normal retracted position after the same has a shuttle propelling move ment. 7

stick pivot, a pair of stop elements one carried by the device and one carried by the picker stick, and resilient means operatively related to the stop elements to return the picker stick to normal retracted position after the same has a shuttle propelling movement, said means comprising a compression spring one end of which engages one of the elements and the other end of which is operatively related to the other element.

- 11. In a loom picker stick retractor, a picker stick, a normally fixed pivot therefor, a pivoted device movable about a center spaced from and substantially parallel to the picker stick, a pair of stop elements one carried by the device and one carried by the picker stick, means operatively related to the stop elements to return the picker stick to normal retracted position after the same has a shuttle propelling movement, said means including a rod extending through both of the elements and limited as to movement by one of said elements, and a compression spring engaging the other of said elements at one end and at the other end being limited as to expansion by the rod.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature. ANTHONY D. GARGOLINSKI.

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